Grammar Lesson for: Common and Proper Nouns (first grade)

Essential Question: How can distinguishing between common and proper nouns, and knowing to capitalize proper nouns help students create written works that are clear and exhibit correct use of the conventions of written Standard American English?

Definition: Common Noun- Names a person, place, thing, or idea; is not capitalized (dog, home, ice cream)

Proper Noun – Names a specific person, place or thing; must be capitalized(Elvis,

Gilbert, Butterfinger ice cream)

Prerequisites (background knowledge needed): The child should have an understanding of what a noun is.

Teacher Resources: Mastering the Mechanics K-1 – Linda Hoyt

PowerPoints/Websites:

http://www.learningplanet.com/act/rats/rats3.asp?rats_compropnouns This site is a game. The object is to catch the type of noun the rat asks for. Both common and proper nouns will drop from the sky and you have to determine which ones to catch in the basket. http://www.harcourtschool.com/activity/basketball/index_pre.html In this game the child has to decide if the word is a common noun, proper noun or not a noun at all.

http://education.smarttech.com/ste/en-US/Ed+Resource/Lesson+activities/Notebook+activities/Browse+Notebook/United+States/Elementary/4-6/Language+Arts/Common+and+Proper+Nouns.htm This is a smart board presentation to explain common and proper nouns that you can download.

song ideas: www.songsforteaching.com There are a couple of songs about nouns on this site. Click on lyrics to see nouns songs.

Essential Skill or Concept: 1-4.4 Use grammatical conventions of Standard American English, including common and proper nouns
1-4.6 Edit for the correct use of written Standard American English, including capitalization
Pre-assessment:
Post sentences from a variety of mentor texts or sample writings and have children “notice”. Which words name people, which words name places, which words name things? “Notice” that some nouns have capitals and others don’t. Discuss why?
Suggested Mentor Text: Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge by Mem Fox, Chicken Sunday by Patricia Polacco or any text that would have proper nouns for children to hear and identify.
Mini-Lesson Outline: Lesson format from Mastering the MechanicsK-1 by Linda Hoyt
Day One:
How will I introduce and explain this skill so that students will understand the how and why?
(inductive method, mini-lecture, demonstration, notes, etc.)Use smartboard activity above to introduce the students to the definition and differences in common and proper nouns.
READ ALOUD/Mini Lesson
Read the one of the mentor texts noticing proper nouns. You may want to read the whole story or just a part of the story and have children listen for proper nouns. If reading the entire text, the rest of this lesson may be done on another day depending on your children.
How will I model this skill for my students? (exemplars and/or demonstrations)
SHARED READING/WRITING Using a sample page from the mentor text, create an anchor chart for rules based on children’s noticing about why some nouns have capitals and others don’t. This could also be added to an existing editing chart. Or you could do this activity: Say, “Today, let’s make a class record-keeping grid with all of your names. Then, anyone who comes into our room will know whose classroom this is. We’ll call this Mrs. ______Class at ______Elementary School. Look at the capitals I used in just the title. Let’s count them. Wow! I used a lot of names in one line.”
Turn and talk: Say, “Writers look over my writing. Did I capitalize each person’s first and last names? If I wrote people’s middle names would I have to capitalize them too? What else was capitalized?”
Sum it up: Say, “Remember, writers always capitalize the first letter of people’s names and the names of particular places like our school. During writing today, be sure to capitalize any names of people or places that you use.” During conferences watch for proper use of proper nouns. Highlight in share time.
Day Two
How will I provide opportunities for guided practice?
GUIDED READING/WRITING Display a writing sample from a student in your room or use the attached page. If the author is one of your students, invite the author to read the selection to the class.
Turn and talk: Say, “Writers, talk about a celebration you can offer the author. What can you say about the meaning of the selection? Think about what we have learned about capitalizing the first letter of people’s names and the names of particular places. Were all the names capitalized?”
Sum it up: Say, “Remember, writers capitalize people’s names and the name of a particular place. In your writing today be sure to capitalize any proper nouns you use.” During conferences watch for proper use of proper nouns. Highlight in share time.
Day Three
How will students independently practice using the skill in their writing?
INDEPENDENT READING/WRITING During writing, have the students look at their writing folders and select a piece of writing that includes someone’s name or the name of a particular place. Give students a few minutes to reread for capitalizing the first letter of a person’s name or a particular place. Say, “Share with your writing partner where you capitalized people’s names. If you wrote about a particular place, check to see if you capitalized that, too.”
During reading have children notice names that are capitalized. Encourage children to use each others names in their writing.
How will I monitor/gauge students’ understanding of the skill? (formative assessment) Confer with individuals to identify which students differentiate between capitalizing a name and the first word in a sentence. Asses writing samples that include proper nouns, and record observations about capitalization.
PASS Format: (This is the statewide assessment that takes place in third grade)
Give students passages and ask them to identify common and proper nouns.
Give students a passage that lacks proper capitalization and have them edit the passage.
Give students a sample passage that lacks proper capitalization.
Use the question stem: What is the correct way to write/edit this sentence?
How will I adapt or differentiate this lesson for grade and skill level? GUIDED READING/WRITING or INDEPENDENT READING/WRITING Use the websites above to reinforce learning. Extend the learning by “noticing” days of the week on the calendar, capitalization of titles of books used in the classroom. Use an interest inventory that would necessitate the use of proper nouns and examine one from the class.
How will I engage students in a reflection of how this skill has developed and how it has helped each of them become a more effective writer?
Have the students use the grade level rubric to evaluate their writing.
Have students note in their writing journals the purpose of capitalizing proper nouns.
Have students identify in their writing places where they used proper capitalization of proper nouns.
Have students identify in their readings proper and common nouns.
Other Teaching Ideas: Use the song and make up motions to imprint the learning through music and motion.
Search for and circle proper nouns in magazines and newspapers.

Page 183 Mastering the Mechanics K-1 by Linda Hoyt